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By Myke Agunwa, Abuja
The task of building a united front from the two parallel factions in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of its National Convention, scheduled to take place in Ibadan, Oyo State, from November 15 to 16, 2025, is facing a fresh hurdle.
Although both camps led by Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike and the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, seem to agree that the upcoming national convention is of utmost importance and that the Ibadan venue is not an issue, agreements over the politics surrounding delegate selection and the harmonization of positions are deadlocked.
The 119th National Convention Organizing Committee (NCOC) chaired by Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, with Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke serving as Vice Chairman, and Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah as Secretary was recently inaugurated at the PDP headquarters.
However, Wike and his group, at the end of a meeting in Abuja, outlined some conditions that must be met for the party to have a smooth convention.
They warned that chaos would ensue if the South-South Congress, which produced Chief Dan Orbih as the party’s Vice Chairman, is not recognized. They also opposed the micro-zoning of party offices but stated that the party’s National Chairman must come from the North Central.
The camp further called for the cancellation of the Southeast congress that re-elected Ali Odefa as Vice Chairman and also demanded the cancellation of Ekiti State local government congress, among other issues.
However, the party leadership dismissed Wike’s threats and those of his allies as empty and reprehensible.
Speaking during the inauguration of the NCOC, the chairman of the PDP Governors Forum and governor of Bauchi State emphasized that the party would no longer be held hostage by a few individuals.
“We are on the way forward. We certainly can’t wait. The time has come when we must flex our muscles.
“We are not cowards, and we are not afraid of anybody. We are capable of navigating this party beyond the shenanigans, beyond the arrogance, and beyond the impunity of others.
“We cannot continue to participate and allow people to lead us to the slaughterhouse. Our job is to ensure we don’t go there.
“The key word is discipline. We will no longer tolerate anybody taking us for granted. It has to stop. Enough is enough. We are not going to tolerate it any longer. Yes, consensus. Yes, accommodation. But accommodation cannot mean stupidity.
“This convention is on course. Our party is on course to organize itself properly. If anyone chooses to become a faction of fools, we will let him go and do so,” he stated.
After a meeting of the South, led by Gov. Makinde of Oyo State, and in collaboration with Bayelsa State Governor Duoye Diri and Enugu State Governor Dr. Peter Mbah, Pointblanknews.com learned that certain positions were micro-zoned to different states in contravention of Wike’s directive.
A stakeholder from the zone, who spoke with our reporter on condition of anonymity on Sunday, disclosed that the distribution was as follows:
“The national secretary, national auditor, and deputy national organizing secretary will go to the South-West, while the South-East will produce the national financial secretary, deputy national secretary, national women’s leader, and deputy national youth leader. The South-South will get deputy national chairman – south, national publicity secretary, deputy national treasurer, and deputy national legal adviser.
“With Governor Makinde’s influence, the national secretary has been micro-zones to Oyo, while the national publicity secretary has also been micro-zoned to Akwa Ibom,” he added.
He explained that the deal was sealed by the Deputy National Chairman South, Amb. Taofeek Arapaja; the National Vice Chairman (South-East), Chief (Dr) Ali Odefa; Chairman of the PDP South-South caretaker committee, Chief Emmanuel Ogidi; and National Vice Chairman (South-West), Engineer Ajisafe Kamorudeen.
The source could not confirm the micro-zoning of the positions for the North but noted that currently, they occupy the roles of national chairman, national legal adviser, national organizing secretary, national youth leader, and national treasurer.
Meanwhile, the faction loyal to Wike remains undeterred and is preparing countermeasures to ensure that as many members of their camp as possible are elected to the next National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.
A member of the faction familiar with developments, told Pointblanknews.com that “Wike wants Sen. Anyanwu to remain a member of the NWC, possibly as Vice Chairman South-East. Part of their strategy is to push for former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom to emerge as next chairman.
“Remember that Wike managed to make Ortom a member of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT). Since Ortom joined the BoT, he has ensured that any decision by the BoT chairman Sen. Wabara that goes against Wike camp’s interests does not see the light of the day.
“Don’t forget that former Benue Governor Gabriel Suswan, who is also eyeing the position, is now moving to the ADC. This clears the way for Ortom to become the next party chairman, provided the Wike faction overcomes all odds.”
Meanwhile, the Deputy National Youth Leader of the party, Hon. Timothy Osadolor has expressed confidence that the convention will hold as planned.
In an exclusive telephone conversation with pointblanknews.com on Sunday, Osadolor said that PDP governors are working with NWC to ensure that the convention is peaceful.
“The relationship between this current NWC and the governor’s forum is at best very, very cordial and almost, if one can say, symbiotic, because they are working on the same page and along the same lines.
“I believe that the governors have been very, very fair to the NWC and the NWC has been very, very cooperative with the governors.
“Therefore, I don’t see any ulterior moves or negative relationship between both. And I believe that if the party and its elected officials, particularly the governors, continue to have strong working and harmonious relationships like this, it can only be better for the interests and thoughts of the party now and the hereafter”.
He dismissed some of the conditions tabled by the FCT ministers camp. He added that the NWC is only taking a second look at the situation in the southeast because it involves a court pronouncement.
“The only one I think is a rational claim that the NWC is considering is that of the South-Eastern Zonal Congress where there were some legal issues. So I think that is the only one that is on the table currently.
“All other ones are best imaginative and speculative and should be dismissed because you can’t hold the party to ransom because you want to please yourself or your group of friends. So, those other ones are not binding on this party.
“The one the party is legitimately considering is that one from the South-Eastern Zonal Congress and I think it will be addressed soon. But beyond that, I don’t see any other area. I don’t see the need blowing the hot air” Osadolor said.
Meanwhile the party’s 119-member convention committee has hit the ground running to ensure that the convention is a success. Days will reveal the next plan from the Wike faction.